The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-06-04
A Naughty, Naughty Man.

My lOVC, my Ouly OuC L HC lliuC Will
soon be here when shall be in a posi-
tion to snap my fingers at fate and set
up as my own boss. Then we shall
have no more of these cruel partings.'
'And you will be true to me?'
'As 1 always am he responded.
you did not forget to put that photo
you had especially taken for me in my
'gripsack, did you7'
ooh, dear, no. Are you sure you will
look at it sometime, love2'
you wicked doubter! You know
that 1 should be wretched without at
least such semblance of my pet to look
at daily and nightly
Draw the veil of charity over his grief
and the treachery of one in whom he
had such unbounded confidence.
In brief she, his only love, his pet,
his wife, had secretly planned to make
him wretched. She had taken that pho
tograph from his gripsack, and was gloat.
ing over his misery when he should dis.
cover that only memory remained to
him for the time being, of his darling's
looks.
'Dear fellow, how he will scold me for
the trick she thought; 'but 1 will send
him the photograph in the first letter
write to him.
Thus appeasing her conscience, she
waited for his first letter. 1t came
from Chicago and began as follows:
My Hearts Delight Got here o.
K. this a. m. Have been wrestling with
the trade all day, and rough time I've
had of it. Weary and tagged have
retired to my room, shut out the gilded
atmosphere of sin that envelopes this
terrible city, and taken from my satchel
your sweet picture. 1t is before me as
l write. l shall kiss it when I have
said my evening prayer. 1t will rest
under my pillow. 1t is my one solace
until I hold you, my sweet wife, in these
faithful arms again.
Thus far she read, then she toppled
over on the floor.
What comfort she found there it is
hard to say; but great determination
rose with the stricken wife, who went out
an hour later and sought telegraph
office.
Her husband had been saying his
prayers abroad that evening, and when
he got to his hotel about midnight, his
spiritual emotions received new shock
by telegram from his only 'love.'
1t was elaborate for a dispatch, but
under the circumstances one could not
expect an outraged wife to transmit her
feelings by the slow mail. This dis
patch read:
'You are no longer the only drummer
who is. not a liar, as you have always
claimed. Let the fraternity take you
their chief into their heart. Had you
taken the pains even to look for the
photograph you say your prayers to,
you would have discovered that l had
TO test you-removed it. My faith
in you is dead!
The husband clutched his hair.
'Why, what did-I write to her any
way ~ he muttered.
After awhile his face cleared.
sBy love? l must have piled on the
taffy. That's what man gets for try
ing his best to make woman feel good !
Poor little dear, what fume she must
be in Lucky for me she gave her griev-
ance away. What geese woman are
Bless your little noddle, her faith shall
be resurrected.
Forthwith he telegraphed to know
ing friend:
7Send me, first mail, photograph of
my wife. Beg, borrow, steal it, get it
somehow. Will write all particulars
soon.'
A week later drummer, in digniied
martyrdom, stood face to face with a
stern, but very wept out wife.
She expected to see him meek and
humble, but he gazed upon her with
much scorn, and then passed on to his
room in crushing silence. She was
amazed. With quick impulse she fol-
lowed, thanking heaven he had not lock
ed her out.
'Well,' she began, with wavering
courage, 'what have you got to say fol
yourself, now?
Coldly, cruelty he looked at her
Up he queried. woman, if it were
not for the overmastering love I beal
for you, l should never look upon yor
again.
His face was convulsed with tragic
suffering that was balm to the heart to
witness, but she only sneered-
'Can you explain the deception yor
tried to practice upon me2'
Can you obliterate the insult put up
on your husband in that unwomanly de-
spatch? A woman with so little con-
fidence in her husband would be better
off to live alone. For my part, l am
not only disgusted, but disenchanted.'
He turned sorrowfully away, ano
bowed his head in his hands. She ap
preached him and laid the letter which
had caused so much grief under hi
eyes.
'Read that. Knowing you had ne
picture of mine, what was to think 2
what any intelligent, right minded
wife would have thought; you woulC
have said to yourself, 'He is incapable
of deceit; he has my picture somehow.
But you did not have it,
He looked at her, with sad, resigned
sorrow. His lips quivered, as he sadl
murmured-
'Oh, woman without an atom c
faith!'
Then he put his hand in his pocke